Wyoming superintendent outlines school choice, pro-family reforms for 2025

Wyoming’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder announced her legislative priorities for the upcoming year – including universal school choice.

“Our future is under attack by extreme ideologies and federal overreach that have no place in Wyoming,” Degenfelder said in a press release Sunday. “This legislative agenda is about standing firm against this assault, protecting our families and resources, empowering parents, and ensuring every student is equipped to succeed with the values that make Wyoming strong.”

Her priorities include:

• Extending rules that prohibit biological boys from girls’ sports and bathrooms; 
• Requiring parental consent to change a child’s name or pronouns at school; 
• Cracking down on drug distribution and possession; 
• Making it impossible for minors to view online pornography;  
• Allowing school board candidates to designate a political party;  
• Easing the process to start charter schools;  
• Removing income restrictions from Wyoming’s school choice program, making it universal; 
• Reducing unnecessary oversight of homeschool families;  
• Increasing open enrollment opportunities;  
• Promoting early literacy;  
• Banning cellphones;  
• And eliminating DEI.  

“This is Wyoming, and we don’t let outsiders or ideologues tell us how to raise our kids or manage our resources,” the state superintendent explained. “Our agenda is clear: protect our families, defend our values, and ensure our schools stay focused on what matters most – educating the next generation.” 

Degenfelder was elected superintendent in 2023 after previously serving as the Wyoming Department of Education’s Chief Policy Officer.  

Her campaign platform emphasized being pro-family, pro-America and preparing students for the workforce.  

Education freedom guru Corey DeAngelis was quick to praise Degenfelder for including universal school choice in her priorities.  

The Wyoming Legislature passed its first-ever school choice bill in March 2024, offering scholarships to families earning up to 500% of the federal poverty level ($156,000 for a family of four). 

Gov. Mark Gordon signed the bill but vetoed the portions for middle-income families, restricting the program to those making 150% or less of the federal poverty level ($46,800 for a family of four). 

Degenfelder hopes to eliminate these barriers, but her public school reforms are also important as the vast majority of Wyoming’s students attend public school.  

Nationwide, an average of 83% of students attend a traditional public school, 7% a public charter, and 10% a private school.  

But in Wyoming, over 93% attend a traditional public school and just 3% a private school – one of the lowest private school rates in the nation. The nation’s least populous state covers a large land area and has just 11 municipalities with 10,000 or more people. 

The good news is that charter enrollment is on the rise, increasing nearly 60% between 2019 and 2024.